The latest on California politics and government

February 28, 2013

Women accounted for slightly more than one-third of Gov. Jerry Brown's judicial appointments since he took office in 2011, with minorities claiming a similar share, according to data released today by the governor's office.

The percentage of women and minorities appointed by the Democratic governor falls below that of the statewide population but is more reflective of California's diversity than all the judges now on the bench.

Seventy-one percent of sitting judges and justices are white, and 69 percent are men, according to the governor's office.

Brown has made 90 judicial appointments since taking office in 2011. His appointments last year included Jim Humes, pictured above, a former senior aide to Brown and the first openly gay justice to serve on a California Court of Appeal.

Brown's office said another appointee, Halim Dhanidina, is the first American Muslim judge ever appointed in California. The governor named him to Los Angeles Superior Court last May.